Solar to light up McLeod Russel India Limited's tea estate in Assam.

Renewal energy source makes its inroads in the tea industry. Tea estates in Assam have started experiment with solar power.

Tea gardens in Assam face erratic power supply from the grid. Only 60 per cent of total electricity requirement is supplied by the state run power sector utility, for the remaining 40 per cent tea estates have to rely on gensets.

Vikram Solar, the manufactures photovoltaic (PV) solar modules has tied up with McLeod Russel India Limited for the execution of 100 Kw Off-Grid Solar Power Project at Attareekhat Tea Estate, Tangla, Assam. The project is expected to become operational by April this year.

This solar system with battery back-up has received 30 per cent subsidy from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. The company is in talks with various tea estates in Assam and West Bengal for installing solar facility.

K.K. Baheti, chief financial officer of Mcleod Russel India Ltd told ET, 'We are doing solar project in one of the tea gardens and will see how this shapes up.'

Gyanesh Chaudhary, Managing Director & CEO, Vikram Solar stated, 'By setting up this plant with McLeod Russel, Vikram Solar has expressed its confidence in bringing Solar Power to north-east India and eradicate the myth that north-east India is not suitable for Solar Power plants.'

ET